made in the Department of State. (Mr. Moore, Third Assist. Sec., to Mr. Jennett, Nov. 19, 1889, 175 MS. Dom. Let. 348.) St. Paul's Rocks.-No notice appears to have been filed of the discovery of these islands, which lie in the Atlantic Ocean near the equator in about 30 W. long. (Mr. Uhl, Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Read, Nov. 15, 1893, 194 MS. Dom. Let. 270.) San Andreas.-The opinion was expressed that the Department would not be warranted in further pressing a complaint against the Colombian Government in respect of this island. (Mr. Gresham, Sec. of State, to Mr. Winter, March 28, 1895, 201 MS. Dom. Let. 321.) Serrannilla Keys.-Discoverer, James W. Jennett, Dec. 1866; declaration of discovery filed, May 24, 1869; bonds given, Sept. 8, 1879, and Sept. 13, 1880. Various assignments were made. (Mr. Brown, chief clerk, to Mr. Neymann, Jan. 24, 1879, 126 MS. Dom. Let. 230; Mr. Hunter, Acting Sec., to Mr. Rice, Sept. 30, 1879, 130 id. 92; Mr. Frelinghuysen, Sec. of State, to Mr. Ransom, Dec. 26, 1884, 153 id. 511; Mr. Porter, Assist. Sec., to Mr. Saunders, April 2, 1885, 154 id. 658; Mr. Day, Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Hildebrand, Nov. 16, 1897, 222 id. 460.) Serrano Keys.-J. W. Jennett, by letters of Aug. 13 and 29, 1868, asserted a claim under the act of 1856 to the Island of Serrano and certain adjacent keys. The minister resident of Nicaragua and Honduras protested against the occupation of the islands, on the ground that they were within the jurisdiction of and occupied by Honduras. "This claim on the part of Honduras is now under examination by this Department. No certificate can be issued to you by this Department until the merits of that claim of the Republic of Honduras are settled." (Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Jennett, Sept. 14, 1868, 79 MS. Dom. Let. 312.) A certificate was issued to Jennett, Dec. 11, 1868. (Mr. Evarts, Sec. of State, to Mr. Russell, April 5, 1878, 122 MS. Dom. Let. 384.) His title "is apparently good and he or his legitimate assignee seems to be entitled to the protection of the United States against the interference of any foreign government." He appeared to have made assignments of his interest. (Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, to Mrs. Stevens, June 21, 1869, 81 MS. Dom. Let. 289.) Sombrero Island." After careful investigation of the records and files of this Department nothing has been discovered to show that the title of citizens of the United States to the guano on that island was ever recognized by the President." (Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. McCulloch, Aug. 14, 1868, 79 MS. Dom. Let. 204. See, also, Mr. Seward to Mr. Welles, Sept. 10, 1861, 55 id. 63.) Swan Islands.-The "proof filed by the New York Guano Company, to secure the protection of the Government for their possession" was "considered sufficient to authorize the Government to extend the protection asked for, under the act of August 18, 1856." (Mr. Seward, Sec. of State, to Mr. Parish, March 23, 1863, 60 MS. Dom. Let. 68.) As the result of assignments, the rights under the act in 1894 were claimed by the Pacific Guano Co. (Mr. Uhl, Acting Sec. of State, to Mr. Brash, Feb. 27, 1894, 195 MS. Dom. Let. 590. See, as to the status of the islands, Mr. Gresham, Sec. of State, to Mr. Brash, Oct. 29, 1894, 199 id. 266. The papers relating to the islands are enumerated in Mr. Hill, Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Torrey, Nov. 19, 1898, 232 MS. Dom. Let. 608. See, also, Mr. Hill, Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Jewett, Feb. 17, 1899, 235 MS. Dom. Let. 35.) Triangle Islands.-These islands are three in number-two of them constituting the Eastern Triangle, and the other the Western. See Western Triangle. Vicorilla Key.—Julius R. Schultz made a claim as discoverer; but, as the key was claimed by both Nicaragua and Honduras, it was not recognized as appertaining to the United States. (For. Rel. 1888, I. 119, 132.) Neither Nicaragua nor Honduras, however, seemed disposed to disturb Mr. Schultz' possession. (Mr. Rives, Assist. Sec. of State, to Mr. Moale, Jan. 25, 1888, 166 MS. Dom. Let. 671; Dec. 12, 1888, 171 id. 71.) Western Triangle.-Discoverer, J. W. Jennett, Feb., 1879; declaration, Sept. Woody Island.-No notice of discovery seems ever to have been filed. (Mr. 14. PROPOSALS OF ANNEXATION. (1) CANADA. § 116. The Articles of Confederation, 1778, provided: "Article XI. Canada acceding to this Confederation, and joining in the measures of the United States, shall be admitted into and entitled to all the advantages of this union; but no other colony shall be admitted into the same, unless such admission be agreed to by nine States." The text of the Articles of Confederation had been in existence, in its final form, nearly three months (since Nov. 15, 1777) when the treaty of alliance with France of Feb. 6, 1778, was signed. By this treaty it was stipulated (Art. V.) that, if the United States should think fit to attempt the reduction of the British power remaining in the northern parts of America, or the islands of Bermudas, those countries or islands, in case of success, should be confederated with or dependent upon the United States; and the King of France (Art. VI.) renounced forever the possession of the Bermudas, as well as of any territory on the North American continent then or previously belonging to Great Britain. He reserved, however (Art. VII.), the right to attack and obtain possession of any of the islands in or near the Gulf of Mexico which were then under the British power. On July 2, 1866, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives reported a bill to the effect, that when the Department of State should be officially informed that Great Britian and the several British provinces in Canada accepted the proposi tion of annexation, the President should declare by proclamation that Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Lower Canada, Upper Canada, and the territories of Selkirk, of Sasketchewan, and of Columbia should be admitted into the United States as States and Territories." This resolution was not acted on, but on March 27, 1867, a resolution from the Committee on Foreign Affairs was passed in the House without opposition, to the effect that the people of the United States regarded with extreme solicitude the confederation proposed on the northern frontier without the assent of the people of the provinces to be confederated, such a measure being likely to increase the embarrassment already existing between Great Britain and the United States." "I enclose a copy of a paper purporting to be a memorial from inhabitants of British Columbia, urging the transfer of that colony to the United States, which has been presented to the President, and which has already been printed in the public papers of this city and elsewhere through the agency of the parties charged with its presentation. "In an informal conversation with Mr. Thornton, he referred to this petition, and I showed him the original. As Mr. Thornton had very frequently and very openly, not only to me, but in the presence of others, expressed the willingness of the British Government to terminate its political connection with the provinces on this continent, whenever it should appear that a separation was desired by its present dependencies, I took the occasion to suggest that possibly the desire indicated by these petitioners, taken in connection with the troubles in the Red River or Selkirk settlement, and the strong opposition to confederation manifested in the maritime provinces, might induce his Government to consider whether the time was not near when the future relation of the colonies to Great Britain must be contemplated with reference to these manifestations of restlessness, and to some extent of dissatisfaction with their present condition. "I need not, however, multiply the arguments which tend to the conviction that at no very distant day the question of the independence of this territory must be practical and pressing. "If Great Britain will assent to such independence, the danger of a strife upon our borders, and of an Indian war, originating in the British possessions, but not recognizing the boundary which that Government and the United States have accepted, will be avoided. "You will exercise your discretion in reference to this question, availing yourself of every opportunity to obtain information as to the real sentiments of the British Government on the question of the separation of the colonies from the mother country, and when opportunity a Amer. Ann. Encyclop. 1866, 78. Amer. Ann. Encyclop. 1867, 275; 2 Lawrence Com. sur droit int. 313. offers indicating the facts which seem to make such separation a necessity." Mr. Fish, Sec. of State, to Mr. Motley, min. to England, Jan. 14, 1870, MS. During 1869 and 1870 the question of the cession of Canada to the United (2) SALVADOR. "The province of St. Salvador, one of the constituent States of the Republic of Guatemala, by a solemn decree of its Congress, freely chosen by the people, did on the 5th day of December, 1822, propose its annexation to our own Union, as one of the United States. This measure was adopted as an expedient for escaping from the oppression with which they were menaced, of being annexed by force to the Mexican Empire while under the government of Yturbide. For the purpose of carrying it into effect three commissioners were despatched with full powers, who came to the United States, and in the beginning of September, 1823, repaired to the city of Washington. In the interval between the time of their appointment and that of their arrival here a revolution in Mexico had overthrown the government of Yturbide, and the Republican rulers who succeeded to his power acknowledged the right of the people of Guatemala to institute a government for themselves, and withdrew all claim of supremacy over them. This course of events superseded the determination which the Congress of St. Salvador had formed, of offering to unite their fortunes with our Confederation.” Mr. Clay, Sec. of State, to Mr. Williams, chargé d'affaires to the Federation of the Centre of America, Feb. 10, 1826, MS. Inst. to U. States Ministers, XI. 5. (3) CUBA. "7 February [1823]. I had some interesting conversation to-day with Mr. Poinsett concerning. . . Cuba, where he has lately been on public service. . . . Cuba, he says, is ripe for union with the U. S. whenever Spain is forced to change her constitution. Even the old Spaniards, and the Creoles to a man- -he had direct communi cations to this effect with many of their most influential characters. They do not, however, desire any change until Spain compels it by some radical alterations in her present constitution. Whenever she does Cuba will ask for our protection and for admission into the Union. If we reject them they will then apply to England. But at present, Mr. P. says, they are extremely averse to her superintendence. There have been two English agents at Havana for some time. Cuba has had an agent here in communication with our Government. His name is Morales. "It is a very momentous measure for the decision of this country. Much may be said against it. be said against it. But I have long tho't that whenever Cuba presents herself, without any forcing or manoeuvring on our part, we must e'en take the goods the Gods provide us. The Western States are all anxiety for it. To them Cuba in British hands would be intolerable. The Southern States have no objection. The middle and east would consent, tho' the latter perhaps not freely, as it would add immensely to a preponderance which they see with jealousy and dread already." Diary of Mr. Ingersoll, Life of Charles Jared Ingersoll, 111-112. "These islands [Cuba and Porto Rico], from their local position are natural appendages to the North American continent, and one of them [Cuba], almost in sight of our shores, from a multitude of considerations has become an object of transcendent importance to the commercial and political interests of our Union. Its commanding position, with reference to the Gulf of Mexico and the West India seas; the character of its population; its situation midway between our southern coast and the island of San Domingo; its safe and capacious harbor of the Havana, fronting a long line of our shores destitute of the same advantage; the nature of its productions and of its wants, furnishing the supplies and needing the returns of a commerce immensely profitable and mutually beneficial, give it an importance in the sum of our national interests with which that of no other foreign territory can be compared, and little inferior to that which binds the different members of this Union together. Such, indeed, are, between the interests of that island and of this country, the geographical, commercial, moral, and political relations formed by nature, gathering, in the process of time, and even now verging to maturity, that, in looking forward to the probable course of events for the short period of half a century, it is scarcely possible to resist the conviction that the annexation of Cuba to our Federal republic will be indispensable to the continuance and integrity of the Union itself. "It is obvious, however, that for this event we are not yet prepared. Numerous and formidable objections to the extension of our territorial dominions beyond sea present themselves to the first contemplation of |